Three by Flatley Lift Islanders

AP

Published: December 24, 1990

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 23—
Patrick Flatley scored his third goal of the game with 31 seconds left in overtime tonight to give the Islanders a 4-3 victory over Pittsburgh, ending the Penguins' six-game winning streak.

Flatley took a pass from Brent Sutter, came out from behind the net and whipped a wraparound shot past Frank Pietrangelo for his 12th goal of the season.

The Islanders' David Volek appeared to have won the game at 1:26 of overtime. After a Pittsburgh turnover, Volek put a backhander off the crossbar that immediately bounced down.

The goal judge, Ron Harris, made no signal but the referee, Paul Stewart, who was bowled over by Volek after the play, got up and signaled a goal. After a complaint by the Penguins and a consultation with his linesmen, Stewart waved off the goal.

The Islanders' coaches and most of the players had already left the ice and had to be called back to continue the overtime.

Jaromir Jagr and Mark Recchi gave the Penguins a 2-0 lead in the first period.

Flatley scored twice in the second period to pull the Islanders even at 2-2. His first goal came at 14:10 when he deflected Joe Reekie's 45-foot shot past Pietrangelo. He scored again at 18:01.

Randy Gilhen scored on a shorthanded breakaway with 43 seconds left in the second period to give Pittsburgh a 3-2 lead. Zarley Zalapski made a breakout pass from behind his goal line to start the play. Gilhen outskated Gary Nylund and put a shot between Jeff Hackett's legs for his 10th goal.

Bill Berg beat Pietrangelo on the short side at 8:18 of the third period to send the game into overtime. Berg took a pass from Greg Parks and scored his third of the season with a slap shot from the top of the left circle.